Liquid suction device



W. GERSTMANN LIQUID SUCTION DEVICE Filed March 25, 1941 2/ /QINVENTOR WATTORNYS Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES OFFICE LIQUD SUCTION DEVICE William Gerstmann, Buffalo, N. Y. Application Match 25, 1941, Serial No. 385,082

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a liquid suction device and more particularly to such a device which is used for cleanng up liquids on fioors, rugs, and the like, and which can also be used as an air washer or for iumigating, deodorizing and humidiiying a room.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide such a suction device which is inexpensive and simple in construction and which can be readily used in conjunction with a conventional household Vacuum cleaner.

Another object is to provide such a suction device which can replace the filter bag of a conventional household vacuum cleaner and thereby be incorporated directly in the vacuum cleaner.

Another object is to provide such a cleaning device which simply and efiectively collects the liquid cleaned up in a container which can be easily emptied and r8placed.

Another purpose is to provide such a device which can be efi'ectively used as an air washer or for umigating, deodorizing and humidifying a room.

'Other advantages of the present invention Will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, reference being made to the drawing, Wheren:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a conventional household vacuum cleaner incorporating the preserit invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, fragmentary, central section, on an enlarged scale, of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a substantially vertical, transverse section thereof, taken on line 33, Fig. 2.

The invention is shown as embodied in a conventional household vacuum cleaner of the portable type although any suitable form of suction producing means can be employed. The portable vacuum cleaner in general comprises a casing m of tubular form in cross-section, an electric motor (not shown) arranged in one end of the casing l and adapted to be energized through a line Il and also adapted to be turned on and shut off by an electrical switch l2, a removable head l3 arranged on the opposite end of the casing Il), and a handle l4 arranged on top of the casing. The removable head l3 is shown as being connected to the casing Il! along a transverse angular line and this head includes a shell l5, the edge of which is offset slightly, as indicated at I6, an annular abutment in the form of an angle Il arranged on the inside of the set 16, and an opening l8 provided in the front wall of the shell 15. The head l3 is removably secured to the tubular casing [0 by one or more fasteners I9, or in any other suitable manner. A hose 20 is suitably connected at one end in the opening 18 in the head l3, the opposite end of this hose 20 being provided with a conventional suction nozz1e (not shown) such as is commonly used with household vacuum cleaners. Substantially centrally of the tubular casing Il], the same is provided With a perforated Wall 2| on the forward side of which is arranged an air filter element 22. A chamber'23 thus provided between the filter 22 and'the removable head l3 normaily houses the conventional dirt filter bag (not shown) and the compartment 24 formed on the opposite side of the wall2l houses the electric motor and suction fan unit (not shown). It will therefore be seen that air is permitted to besucked in through the hose 20, through the opening l8 in the head l3, through the chamber 23, through the filter 22 and perforated wall 2l, through the compartment 24, and discharged thr0ugh an air discharge opening (not shown) in the opposite end of the vacuum cleaner, the direction of air movement being shown by arrows in Fig. 1.

In accordance With the present invention the 'chamber 23, nor'mally occupied by the conventional dirt filter bag (not shown), houses a liquid separatirig and collecting container, indicated generaily at 30. This container is shown as being of tubular form and as including an imperf0rate end wall 31 and being open at its opposite end. The container 30 is formed to provide a continuous annular flange 32 arranged at an angle to the axis of the casing l0, the plane of which flange is parallel with the angular line of connection between the casing ID and the removable head 13, and this annular fiange 32 carries a seaiing ring 33 on its outer edge, as best shown in Fig. 2. The fiange 32 is interposed between thehea'd l3 and casing 10' and the sealing ring 33 of 1ubber or any other suitable matter engages with the'annular abutment I1 and an annular shoulder 34 form'ed on the open end of the casing I0. It will thus be seen that the tubular container-30 is arranged and held in substantially coaxial relation to thetubular casing la so that an annular space is provided between the container 30 and the surrounding casing l0, as best shown in Fig. 2.

To compel the liquid laden air to travel a circuitous path so that opportunity is afforded tubular casing l0 immediately adjacent the ofifor the liqlfld to s p r e fromthe air and be collected in the bottom of the container 30 and also for the air to be discharged, baffle means are provided which are preferably constructed as follows:

At the bottom of the mouth or open end of the liquid separating and collecting container 30, a baflie 38 is provided which extends transversely of the container and slopes upwardly and rearwardly into the container. A wall 39 is provided at the top of the mouth of the container 30 which extends transverseiy of the container and downwardly parallel with the angular line of connection between the head [3 and the casing l to a point approximately half way the depth of the container 30. An inlet opening 40 to the container is thus provided between the bafiie 38 and the wall 39 and this opening 40 produces communication between the hose and the interior of the container 30. A horizontal she1f,

partition or bafiie 4l extends horizontally inwardly of the container the full width thereof from the lower end of the wall 39 to a point approximately half the length of the container and at its rear or inner end this partition 4l is formed to provide a downwardly and rearwardly extending deflecting 1ip 42. A baflie 43 is shown as being arranged on the underside of the top of the container 30 a slight distance in rear of the 1ip 42 and this bafiie 43 slopes downwardly and rearwardly a short distance from the top of the container and extends across the full Width of the container 30. The air discharge outlet 44 for the container 30 is preferably located in the top of the container and is formed by a section of the top of the container being struck downwardly into the container, as indicated at 45, thereby to provide a bafile.

The liquid laden air .sucked in through the hose 211 impinges against the baffle 38 and is .defiected upwardly and inwardly of the container 30 against the partition 4l whereupon some of the liquid is knocked out or separated from the mixture and is coliected on the bottom of the container to form the body of separated and collected liquid 46. The lip 42 aids in directing the liquid laden air downwardly against the body of liquid 46 and causes further separation of the liquid from the air. After being deflected by the body of liquid 45 the still partially liquid laden air mixture is directed against the rear end Wall 3l of the container 30 with further separation of the liquid from the air whereupon the impeding baffle 43, upper surfaces of the lip 42 and partition 4l, and the baflie 45 providing the discharge outlet 44 of the container, ail cooperate to produce complete separation of the liquid from the air, the liquid draining ofi the various bafiles and being collected in the body of liquid 46 in the bottom .of the container and the air being discharged from the container through the discharge opening therein. Thus the liquid laden air is caused -to follow a circuitous path in order to efiect a complete separation of the liquid from the air, this path of movement being indicated generaily by the arrows in Fig. 2.

After being discharged through the discharge opening 44 in the container 30 the air is drawn rearwardly through the space provided between the opposing peripheries of the container 39 and the casing I0, through the filter 22, perforated wall 2l, and finally idischarged from the opposite end of the vacuum cleaner.

It will be noted that the sealing ring 33 prevents leakage through the joint between the head l3 and the casing ID and further that the only opening to the interior of the container 30 for the liquid laden air mixture is through the inlet opening 40.

The above organization embodying my invention has been found to be exceedingly successful in producing a complete separation of the liquid from the air, particulariy when cleaning rugs that have been shampooed with a cleaning liquid.

While the operation of the invention has been described as a suction cleaning device it is readily apparent that the invention can be used as an air cleaner. For this purpose by providing a body of water or other suitabie cleaning liquid in the container 30 and drawing or sucking dust laden air through the respective container and causing this air to travel the circuitous path described above, the dust and dirt will be collected in the body of liquid and the air thereby cleaned.

It will further be seen if a body of fumigant, deodorant or water is placed in the container the apparatus can be employed to fumigate, de-

odorize or humidify a room.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, compact and inexpensive liquid suction device which can be used either to clean up liquids on fioors, rugs and the like, or as an air washer, or can be used to fumigate, deodorize or humidify a room.

I claim as my invention:

In combination with a household vacuum cleaner having an elongated tubular casing arranged with its axis horizontally disposed and having one end open and its opposite end provided with a suction conduit and a head fitting over said open end and having an air inlet; means arranged within said casing for separating and collecting liquid from a liquid and air mixture drawn in through said inlet, comprising an .elongated tubular container having one end open and its opposite end provided with an end head, means at the open end of said container and interposed between said casing and head for supporting said container'in coaxial relation within said casing and with an annular space between the walls thereof, a transverse baffle across the iower part of the open end of said container and s'ecured to impound a body of liquid in the bottom of said container, and a second transverse baffle in said container extending downwardly from the upper part of said container at the open end thereof to a point. short of said first baflie and thence ,generally horizontally and centrally of said container and terminating short of the end head thereof to provide a lower horizontal pass through which the air entering said inlet passes horizontally over said body of water and thence upwardly between the end of the horizontal part of said second baflie and the end head of said container and to provide an upper horizontal pass through which said air continues horizontally toward the open end of said container and out through an opening provided in the upper part of said container adjacent the open end thereof and into said annular space, and said air continuing horizontally through said annular space between said container and said casing to the suction conduit of said casing.

WILLIAM GERSTMANN. 

